Bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs in Lower-Trophic-Level Organisms in Sendai Bay, Japan

Abstract

In Sendai Bay, Japan, the total PCDD, PCDF, and Co-PCB (dioxins) concentrations in phytoplankton were equivalent to 150, 12, and 51 pg/g wet weight (ww), respectively. The average concentrations in seaweed were 3, 0.095, and 2.1 pg/g ww, respectively. The total concentrations in phytoplankton were much higher than those in seaweed, even though both groups are algae. The concentrations in zooplankton were 11, 1.1, and 110 pg/g ww, respectively. The total PCDD/F concentrations in zooplankton (primary consumers and lower-trophic-level invertebrates) were lower than in phytoplankton (primary producers), but the total Co-PCB concentration in zooplankton was higher than that in phytoplankton. The concentrations in mysids (secondary consumers and higher-trophic-level invertebrates) were 190, 18, and 290 pg/g ww, respectively. The average concentrations in shrimp (secondary consumers and higher-trophic-level invertebrates) were 120, 17, and 410 pg/g ww, respectively. The concentrations in higher-tropic-level invertebrates were higher than those in lower-trophic-level invertebrates. The average concentrations in sand lance were 4.5, 1.7, and 550 pg/g ww, respectively. The total PCDD concentration in sand lance was lower than that in zooplankton (prey of sand lance), but the total Co-PCB concentration in sand lance was higher than that in zooplankton. The bioaccumulation of PCDD congeners in sand lance differed from that of Co-PCB congeners. The bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs from lower- to higher-trophic-level invertebrates through the food web differed from that from lower-trophic-level invertebrates to fish.